"So, my Mom said that it's okay for us to go to the beach house for our birthdays", I tell Niall, as I enter Justin's house with him.
"Awsome, so, I'll send out invitations and everything and you just take care of sending me a list of people you want at the party", Niall smiles.
"Sure."
We both move down into Justin's basement, where Mere and Justin are already seated at their places.
"Hey guys", I speak up.
I walk over to Mere and hug her before walking over to Justin and hugging him. He also kisses my cheek, making me blush a little. I don't really know how to deal with such small gestures. I sit down on a chair Justin put at my usual spot which is slightly behind Niall on one level with Mere and Justin closer to me because I play bass but still a little behind me.
"So, we have about two weeks until Homecoming. We sound really good together, so I think we should just clear up some questions and then discuss what we could wear at Homecoming. We need to look good as one band. And we should finally find a band name. We've been in this band since Sophomore year and we still don't have a name", Mere explains.
"That's true", Justin chuckles.
I also agree. Niall just nods.
"We should play our duets for you though", Niall speaks after a short minute of silence.
I agree. I already warmed up my voice on the way over in the car. Yes, I drove all by myself today. Wesley didn't need the car, so I took it. I don't want to be dependent on Niall and his car.
"Good idea", Justin smiles, giving me a slight side-eye.
"Then let's sing this through and then let's decide on some stupid band name", I exclaim, getting off of my chair and setting it next to Niall.
We both quickly get our guitars. Mere and Justin on the other hand stay at their places and look at us. I close my eyes.
"This is 'I Fall Apart' by Post Malone", Niall speaks up.
I start strumming my guitar. Niall joins in soon after. I begin the song. Soon enough Niall starts singing his part, so I open my eyes and look over at him. There is a vein bulging from his neck slightly. His jaw is also very tense.
"Never caught a feelin' this hard, harder than the liquor I pour. Tell me you don't want me no more but I can't let go. Everybody told me so, feelin' like I sold my soul. Devil in the form of a whore", Niall sings, pressing out the words, putting so much emotion in it that I see Mere slightly shift uncomfortably in her seat from the corner of my eye.
I continue playing on, letting Niall sing most of the song. I jump back in at the last chorus.
"Ooh, I fall apart, down to my core. Ooh, I fall apart, down to my core. Ooh, didn't know it before. Surprised when you caught me off guard. All this damn things I bought, you was my shorty, I thought", we both sing together.
Justin and Mere just sit at their places, silence filling the room.
"That was great", Justin speaks up, clearing out the silence.
"What songs are you also going to do?", Mere asks.
I look at Niall, so he can answer. He puts a light smile on his lips.
"'Can't help falling in love' by Elvis and 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran", he answers for us.
Mere throws a knowing look at me but makes sure Niall doesn't see anything. Justin and Niall are speaking but Mere and I just have a staring competition, seeing who would give up their thought on Niall.
"I don't think we have to hear that again, that was perfect", Justin speaks out loud, breaking Meredith and I apart.
"Good, so any good band name ideas?", Mere asks, still looking at me from her position.
We collect quite a few like "Feel Goods", "Four Man Band", "Niall And Losers". I roll my eyes at everyone of those.
"I got it. What if we put something sarcasm related in the title, since we're all really bad with sarcasm", Mere chuckles.
"'Sarcasm Inc.' That's a good one", Justin suggests.
I chuckle a little, actually feeling like this band name could be amazing. It suits us because we all actually are pretty sarcastic.
"I like it", Mere speaks up.
"I do, too", Niall says.
"Same here", I throw in.
Justin also agrees.
"It's settled. We're Sarcasm Inc. from now on. I believe that Mr Fitz won't even care about our name but he has to agree", Niall smiles.
I nod, looking down at my hands. The guitar is heavy in my hands and on my lap.
"So, what do we still have to talk about?", I ask.
Mere looks over at Justin and Justin looks over at her. Niall seems to be in another world. I catch Justin and Mere glaring. They seem like they're talking through looks. I look down at my legs.
"So, if we don't have anyt-", Niall starts.
"We actually have something we would love to talk about", Justin speaks up, "It involves you two especially."
I look up at Mere, seeing her smirk at me. They are dead.
"We were wondering, if you two already have a date to Homecoming", Mere says, putting on a small smile.
She knows exactly that I don't have a date but I'm not sure about Niall. He said he wanted to ask this one Junior but I don't know, if he actually asked her.
"No, I don't", Niall answers.
"I don't have a date either", I explain, standing up to put my guitar away.
I get up and open the guitar case, setting my pretty expensive guitar in there. I lock the case and sit back down on the chair next to Niall's. He also put his guitar away, having it standing between his legs.
"Well, we and people in our friend group want you two to go to Homecoming together because we don't want you two to be all alone while we others have fun and hang out with our dates. We just want you to have someone. I mean, we want you there but we don't want you to be alone", Mere explains.
"Violet", Niall speaks up, turning toward me and smiling a little, "Will you go to Homecoming with me?"
I look up at him, seeing him smile at me a little. My heart skips a beat. He's just asking me because the others are pressuring him to do it. It's not how I want this to be but honestly, I couldn't care less.
"Sure", I say, putting a fake smile on my lips.
I mean, we could have some fun together. Niall will probably find some girl for the boys bathroom, so he can bang her in there. I don't care, as long as I just have someone to go with and not look too lonely with.
"Then it's settled", Justin says, smiling a bit.
"So, what are we wearing?", Niall asks, directed towards Mere and Justin.
"I'd say we don't coordinate because that just takes up too much effort. How about we all just wear whatever we want?", Mere suggests.
"Yeah, sounds fine to me", Justin says.
I nod, agreeing. I rarely ever wear things that I don't really feel good in and coordinating with them would probably make me really uncomfortable.
"What color are you going to go for?", Niall asks, directed towards me.
Oh shit, I don't even know what the hell I'll wear. I hate wearing dresses and skirts. They're just so uncomfortable. Maybe I can wear a romper or I can find a comfortable dress.
"I don't know. I didn't go shopping for a dress yet", I answer.
"What?!", I hear Mere yell.
I glare over at her, seeing she has a shocked expression on her face. She looks really confused aswell.
"What? I didn't have the time and I thought I could wear my dress from last year", I say honestly.
"Girl, we're going shopping right after we're finished here", Mere announces.
I roll my eyes, just agreeing, not seeing why I should complain. At least Mere's a friend I can trust on.
"I'll come with you. I want to match the color of my shirt to your outfit", Niall explains.
I just shrug, not feeling like talking right now. I just do not feel comfortable with Niall around but if he wants to come with us, he might aswell come.
"Good, then let's play through everything once more and then we're done, aren't we?", Justin asks.
"Yeah, so we're taking your car later", Mere speaks up, looking at Niall.
I roll my eyes. This is going to be one hell of a ride.
*****
As soon as we're done, we all leave Justin's place. We're leaving my car here, so we don't have to take two cars. Mere and I step outside first, realizing it's sunny. I like when it's sunny and not all too warm. Niall comes out of the house shortly after, unlocking his car, so Mere and I try to open the backseat door at the same time.
"I'm not sitting in the front with Niall", I growl at her.
"Oh, you are, honey", Mere smirks, lightly shoving me aside.
I give up and take my seat on the passenger seat next to Niall. He already turned the car on and is now connecting his phone to the radio. I try to keep my eyes off of Niall's hands. They're so big compared to my rather small ones. I swallow hard, as he holds his phone over to me.
"Choose a song", he requests.
I take his phone, slightly touching his hand in the process. I almost drop his phone, as I hear a chuckle from the backseat. Niall starts backing out of the driveway and onto the road. I scroll through Niall's Spotify playlist, seeing many songs I also like. I just decide on the first one I feel like is okay. Mere slightly pushes her knee in the back of my seat, making me look back at her. She forms a large smile on her face. I ignore her little moment she's having and focus my eyes on the road again. Niall lightly humms the song, just like Mere. I don't make any noises, just because I'm scared that I'll embarrass myself. I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of Niall. And honestly, I'll admit it. I have a huge crush on Niall. I can't help it. I know it's wrong and Wesley would kill me, if he ever found out but I can't control who I like and who I don't in that specific relation.
"Do you mind changing the song?", Niall suddenly asks from beside me.
I didn't even realize that the song changed and we're at the mall in less than ten minutes. I unlock Niall's phone, him not having any code in it. I change the song to something more happy than "Say Something" from that movie with Chloë Grace Mortez. That song's so depressing and sad. I choose a happy Beatles song. I didn't know Niall liked The Beatles. It's good to know that. We arrive at the mall sooner than I expected. Niall quickly takes a parking spot close to the entrance.
"Do you actually have your dress?", I ask Mere, as soon as we're out of the car and on our way to the entrance of the mall.
"Yeah, I do. Riley, Mia, Lilian and I went together since you were taking pictures with Niall for your project in Photography class", she explains.
I don't even remember her asking me to come with them at all. Maybe they didn't even ask me but what's new? I'm just there, existing. I'm unimportant. That's how I always feel. I used to be happier but now I just feel like I need to get through high school to finally get into college. I still would love to go to the University of Alabama, here in Tuscaloosa. I just don't feel like moving from home would be the best idea. Yes, I'd take a dorm room but I'd not have it that far from home.
"Okay", I mumble, as we enter the store packed with girls from my school.
Some turn around, as they hear the bell above the door rings. Many just don't care and go on with their shopping spree. I guess Niall sees how tensed I am, so he lays one of his hands on the small of my back, rubbing light circles with his thumb. A salesperson comes up to us soon enough.
"Hello, welcome to Juliet's Formal. My name's Juliana, how may I help you?", she asks, catching me a bit off guard.
"I need a dress for Homecoming in two weeks. I'm a size 4 to 6 in dresses", I explain.
"Then follow me, honeybuns. Your boyfriend and best friend can come look around with us."
I don't even mind correcting her. It would be too much work and effort. All I want is to find a dress and go home to finish some assignments for classes.